How Do I Address Concerns About Driving?
Is it safe to drive with Parkinson’ s? How do you know when it’ s time to stop?
As people get older or live with chronic, progressive diseases like Parkinson’ s, the topic of safe driving will likely come up. Neither getting older nor having Parkinson’ s alone means your loved one can no longer drive, but age and disease can impact driving. Age can decrease hearing and vision, or slow reaction time. Parkinson’ s causes movement symptoms that could make it difficult to steer or brake; it can also affect thinking, which could interfere with multitasking or seeing where you and your car are in relation to others.( The latter are called visuospatial skills.) That could make it hard to follow maps or signs, merge into traffic, change lanes or park a car.
Driving is a sensitive subject because it represents freedom and independence. No one wants that taken away, especially when age or Parkinson’ s has already altered other areas of life. And no one wants to“ take away” driving, either. So even those who are concerned might avoid discussing driving for fear of how their loved one will react or what might happen to their relationship.
Tips to Discuss Driving Concerns
Gather information. If you live with or near your loved one, go for a drive together or follow them in another car from a safe distance so you can evaluate more closely. If you’ re providing care from a distance, ask their spouse, close family or neighbors for observations.
Align with others. Get others’ thoughts. If you agree to discuss driving with your loved one, decide how. Who will lead? Should others be there? Will that present a united front or be perceived as an attack? Should you bring up concerns with their doctor or ask a social worker to help?( Involving your loved one’ s care team can take you off the hook for making challenging decisions on your own.)
When to Raise Driving Concerns
If possible, bring up driving long before you have concerns. Talk about it in a hypothetical way:“ If there comes a time when driving isn’ t safe, how should I approach you? What might alert you that driving is no longer safe? What can we do now to be ready if that happens? What did aging relatives do or not do about driving that can guide our plans?”
You might worry about your loved one’ s driving if you notice any of the following:
+ Near misses or close calls.
+ Going too slowly or quickly for the posted speed.
+ Other drivers honking.
+ Getting lost or taking longer to travel to familiar places.
+ Drifting when turning or changing lanes.
+ Trouble merging into traffic or parking.
+ Not obeying traffic signs.
+ Not signaling correctly.
+ Scrapes, dents or other damage to the car, garage or mailbox.
When concerns do arise, plan carefully for the discussion.
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